Moving picture apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for creating the effect of pictures moving in two and three dimensions including a display structure, a number of image producers, and a scanning controller. The display structure contains elements upon which to place the image producers, which elements are arranged in either depth for creating a three-dimensional effect or in width for providing a two-dimensional effect. The image producers can be configured electrodes or surface-covering electrodes used to affect liquid crystal elements of the display structure. Also, the image producers can be radiation sources which cause the images which are to be displayed to become visible to a viewer. The scanning controller is an electronic device which sequentially activates individual members of the image producers to thereby impart the effect of two- or three-dimensional motion depending on the type of display structure utilized.

REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation-in-part of my U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 941,146 filed Sept. 11, 1978 and entitled "Moving PictureApparatus" now U.S. Pat. No. 4,294,516.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to apparatus for creating the effect ofmoving pictures from a series of stationary images and moreparticularly, but not by way of limitation, to apparatus for creatingmoving pictures in two and three dimensions by scanning a series ofstationary images.

2. Description of the Prior Art (Prior Art Statement)

The following statement is intended to be a Prior Art Statement incompliance with the guidance and requirements of 37 C.F.R. §§1.56, 1.97and 1.98.

Apparatus for creating the effect of moving pictures have been disclosedin a number of previously issued patents which are believed pertinent tothe present application. U.S. Pat. No. 2,543,793 issued to Marksdiscloses a three-dimensional intercommunicating system. This suggestedsystem includes layers of liquid crystal blocks each containing arraysof wires which can be scanned and activated to create various images oneach liquid crystal layer. The patent further indicates that the effectof motion is imparted to the images by sequentially activating eachliquid crystal layer. Also disclosed is the use of layers of polarizingsubstances in association with the liquid crystal blocks.

In addition to the Marks apparatus, other devices which have beenproposed to include stacked layers of liquid crystal members aredisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,992,082 issued to Katz and U.S. Pat. No.3,955,208 issued to Wick et al. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 3,918,796issued to Fergason discloses a block of layered liquid crystals incombination with two polarizers.

The effect of motion has also been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,951,529issued to Gandia which discloses a stroboscopic means of illuminatingsigns for use along a vehicle pathway. The stroboscopic means createsthe effect of moving pictures by sequentially illuminating a series ofindividual scenes arranged in horizontally spaced relation to each otherat a particular rate according to the setting on a control box. Anothersystem for displaying pictures in conjunction with a moving vehicle isindicated in U.S. Pat. No. 3,704,064 issued to Sollogoub et al. in whicheach horizontally arranged picture adjoins each bordering picture.

Additional patents which disclose apparatus involving two- andthree-dimensional pictures and which are known to Applicant and believedto be of interest include:

    ______________________________________                                        Inventor             Patent No.                                               ______________________________________                                        Miyazaki             3,961,348                                                Meszlenyi            3,743,394                                                Koenig               3,694,062                                                Shindo               3,582,961                                                Bonnet               2,434,385                                                Arendt               2,319,287                                                Arendt               2,299,731                                                Rosenthal et al.     2,026,753                                                ______________________________________                                    

As shown by the above-mentioned disclosures, there is a need for anapparatus which creates the effect of moving pictures in both two andthree dimensions. There is, also, the need for such a device to becompact and in a self-contained unit. Furthermore, there is the need forsuch an apparatus to be simple to control so that anyone can utilize it.Additionally, there is the need to impart the effect of moving picturesto a stationary viewer. Still another need is to impart such effect bydisplaying a single image at a particular point in time whilemaintaining all other images or scenes unobservable to the viewer atthat time.

The previous disclosures, however, do not describe an apparatus whichfully meets these needs. Additionally, the devices of the priordisclosures have disadvantages or shortcomings which the presentinvention does not have.

One disadvantage of the Marks apparatus is that it is highly complex.Furthermore, it does not appear that the Marks apparatus could bereduced to the compact size attainable with the present invention.

Although the Katz, the Wick et al. and the Fergason patents disclosemulti-layered crystal blocks, they do not disclose means for creatingthe effect of moving pictures therein.

The patents which disclose apparatus which effect two-dimensional motionlikewise fail to indicate the present invention. The device of theGandia patent fails to disclose liquid crystal frames disposed adjacenteach other which are activated sequentially to reveal the desired scene.Also, the Gandia device does not indicate the simplicity or compactnessof the present invention. Furthermore, this patent fails to indicatemeans for maintaining all but the illuminated picture unobservable to aviewer examining the entire area which contains the complete series ofpictures.

These same failures and disadvantages are also applicable to the systemof the Sollogoub et al. patent. An additional disadvantage of theSollogoub et al. device is that its display timing is not independentlycontrollable but is dependent upon the movement of a vehicle.

Additionally, the other cited patents have similar shortcomings and failto disclose the relatively simple, easily usable apparatus of thepresent invention.

Furthermore, none of the cited references discloses the device of thepresent invention in its overlay embodiment used in conjunction withtextual materials.

In light of these and other failures and disadvantages I believe that nopreviously disclosed device which is known to me indicates, eithersingly or in combination, the present invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the above-noted and other shortcomingsof the prior references by providing a novel and improved apparatus forcreating the effect of moving pictures in two and three dimensions. Thisinvention is a compact, self-contained unit which can be used, forexample, in conjunction with family pictures, advertisements, videogames, pilot training and educational instruction. It can also be usedwith such things as lockets or belt buckles or as a wall display in, forexample, a child's bedroom.

Furthermore, because of the fixed nature of the images or frames, theresultant simplicity of operation permits anyone to utilize theinvention. Additionally, the operation is independently controllable sothe individual user can adjust the apparatus to his or her personalviewing rate.

Also, an advantage of the present invention is that the images withinmost of the embodiments of the apparatus are unobservable when notactivated. Thus, when these embodiments of the present invention aredisposed along a bedroom wall, for example, the wall does not appear tobe cluttered with a series of pictures when the invention is notactivated. Furthermore, during operation only one image is observable bythe viewer despite the viewer's sight extending to the whole area whichcontains the complete series of images.

Still another advantage of the present invention is that it can be usedby a child in conjunction with a book containing a series of pictures tocreate moving pictures in telling a story. Also, the present inventioncan be used with a page of writing to display only certain portions oflines or of a page. This use could aid in the advancement of anindividual's reading skills.

Structurally, the present invention primarily includes a displaystructure, a scanning controller and a plurality of image producers.

An embodiment of the display structure used to create the effect ofpictures moving in three dimensions includes elements stacked adjacentone another to thereby create layers which recede from the viewer asviewed from the front. These elements can include, from front to rear, atransparent polarizer, a number of layers of transparent glassalternately interspersed with layers of liquid crystal, and a polarizedreflector. Alternatively, these elements can be spacedly related layersof a substance which is opaque to ultra-violet radiation but transparentto visible light.

An embodiment of the display structure used to create the effect ofpictures moving in two dimensions includes elements which provide atwo-dimensional surface for displaying images in a plane as observed bya viewer examining the surface. These elements can include, from frontto rear as viewed from the front, a transparent polarizer, a layer oftransparent glass, a layer of liquid crystals, another layer oftransparent glass and another transparent polarizer. The layer of liquidcrystals comprises a plurality of individual frames. Alternatively,these elements can be a single layer of a substance which is opaque toultra-violet light but transparent to visible light. A third alternativeincludes a single layer of a translucent material which is disposed inspaced relation to the series of images which are to be revealed by theimage producers under the control of the scanning controller.

The scanning controller is a device which operates to sequentiallyactivate specific outputs which are associated with the image producersto thereby control the sequence and timing for revealing the componentimages of the picture to be observed by the viewer as moving. Such adevice is old in the art and includes such devices as a ring counter.The controller of the present invention includes means for activatingand deactivating the controller, means for varying the order of outputs(and associated image producers) sequentially selected, and means forcontrolling the rate of selection of the image producers.

As with the display structure, the image producers also have a varietyof embodiments. In the display structures which incorporate liquidcrystals, the image producers include transparent electrodes which aredisposed on the facing surfaces of the transparent glass layers whichthus places the electrodes on opposite sides of each liquid crystallayer. Attached to each transparent electrode is a transparent leadwhich extends to an edge of the glass layer to which the respectiveelectrode is connected. Connecting each lead to the scanning controlleris a conductor. In the three-dimensional-type display structure eachpair of facing transparent electrodes is configured in a particularposition of the object which is to be displayed in motion. In thetwo-dimensional-type structure the transparent electrodes can beconfigured as images or can cover the entire inner surface area of theglass layers to which each is adjacent. In this latter embodiment theinvention is to be used in conjunction with a series of pictures whichare disposed on the side of the display structure opposite the viewer.

An embodiment of the image producers used with the display structurehaving the ultra-violet light blocking medium includes images offluorescing material applied to the surfaces of each layer of the mediummaterial, sources of ultra-violet light and conductors connecting thesources of ultra-violet light to the scanning controller.

Still another embodiment of the image producers includes a reflectivepicture disposed behind a translucent display member, brightlight-emitting diodes, shields, and conductors connecting thelight-emitting diodes to the scanning controller.

In addition to these two and three dimensional imaging embodiments,other similar specific embodiments of the present invention aredisclosed hereinbelow.

Regardless of which specific embodiment is used, the general principleof operation of the present invention is the same. That is, the scanningcontroller is turned on to thereby sequentially activate particularlamps or electrodes. Upon activation, the respective image is displayedto the viewer while the unactivated images are transparent or otherwiseunobservable.

Specifically, in the liquid crystal embodiments having specificallyconfigured electrodes, each pair of facing transparent electrodes issequentially activated to thereby cause the liquid crystals within theelectric field between the activated electrodes to become opaque tovisible light and observable under ambient light to the observer.However, in the liquid crystal embodiment having surface coveringtransparent electrodes and used with external pictures, the crystalframes are opaque when the electrodes are unactivated and transparentwhen activated. Thus, when a picture is to be revealed to the observer,the scanner activates the respective pair of electrodes thus causing theliquid crystals therebetween to orient themselves to become transparentand thus permit ambient light to illuminate the picture. In theenclosures which include ultra-violet light sources, the scannersequentially activates each source to thereby cause the respectiveimages to fluoresce and thus become observable to the viewer. The lightemitting diode embodiment functions similarly in that the scanneractivates each diode sequentially to thus illuminate respectivereflective pictures.

In light of the description of the general structure and operation ofthe present invention, a specific application of it is to use anembodiment, for example the two-dimensional liquid crystal displaystructure, in conjunction with a book to sequentially reveal particularportions of a page for the observer's observation. By setting the rateselection means of the scanning controller to an appropriate setting,the individual frames can be revealed in such a manner that they appearto be moving. By doing this a child's story book can be made whichtransforms a presently still picture story into a moving picture story.Also, this application could be used to assist a reader in developingthe skill of reading phrases or sentences instead of individual words.Each individual reader would be able to start at his or her own speedand increase at his or her own pace by means of the rate selectionmeans.

Therefore, from the foregoing, it is a general object of the presentinvention to provide a novel and improved moving picture apparatus.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon areading of the description of preferred embodiments which follows, whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of part of the three-dimensionalimage embodiment of the present invention showing one of the imagesactivated.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation schematic view of the three-dimensional imageliquid crystal embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation schematic view of the three-dimensional imageembodiment of the present invention utilizing an ultraviolet lightsource.

FIG. 4 is a perspective schematic view of part of the two-dimensionalimage embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a side elevation schematic view of the two-dimensional imageembodiment utilizing liquid crystals.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation schematic view of the two-dimensional imageembodiment using an ultra-violet light source.

FIG. 7 is a side elevation schematic view of the two-dimensional imageembodiment using a light-emitting diode.

FIG. 8 is a perspective schematic view of an overlay embodying thepresent invention as used with a picture book.

FIG. 9A is a side elevation schematic view of the planar, single framemoving picture embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9B-9C are front elevation schematic views of the FIG. 9Aembodiment.

FIGS. 10A-10B are front elevation schematic views of a variation of theFIG. 9A embodiment.

FIG. 11 is a side elevation schematic view of a firstreflective-and-gated picture embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a side elevation schematic view of a secondreflective-and-gated picture embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a side elevation schematic view of a thirdreflective-and-gated picture embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a side elevation schematic view of a fourthreflective-and-gated picture embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation schematic view of a fifthreflective-and-gated picture embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a front elevation schematic view of the rotating disk motionpicture embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 17 is a top plan schematic view of the holographic embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to the drawings, a perspective view of part of thethree-dimensional-type embodiment of the present invention is shown inFIG. 1. This view discloses a display structure 10 which includes afirst image 12 and a second image 14. FIG. 1 is drawn to depict that theimage 12 is unactivated and, therefore, not visible to the viewer. Onthe other hand, the image 14 is shown in its activated or observablestate. By adding numerous layers of images in varying positions andsequentially activating each image as subsequently described, it isreadily apparent that the effect of three-dimensional motion will becreated.

One specific apparatus which is used to create this effect is disclosedin FIG. 2. This embodiment generally includes a display structure 15, ascanning controller 16, and a plurality of image producers to besubsequently specified. With the aid of an external light source 17, aviewer 18 can observe the operation of this embodiment of the presentinvention.

The display 15 includes polarizers 20 and 22, transparent glass members24, 26 and 28 and liquid crystal members 30 and 32.

The polarizer 20 is of the transparent type whereas the polarizer 22 isof the reflective type. FIG. 2 shows that the transparent polarizer 20is located within the display 15 adjacent the glass member 24. FIG. 2further shows that the polarized reflector 22 is disposed adjacent theglass member 28.

The glass members 24, 26 and 28 can be of a type of substance which istransparent to visible light. These members are disposed in spacedrelation within the display 15 by being separated by the liquid crystalmembers 30 and 32. As a result of this placement within the display 15,the glass member 24 has a surface 25 which faces a surface 27 of theglass member 26. Similarly, the glass member 26 has a surface 29 whichfaces a surface 31 of the glass member 28.

To these surfaces are attached the image producers which include aplurality of transparent electrodes 34, 36, 38 and 40. Attached to thesurface 25 is the transparent electrode 34. This electrode 34 isconfigured in the shape of the image which is desired to be displayed.In this specific embodiment, the electrode 34 is configured in the shapeof the image 14 of FIG. 1 as an airplane. Attached to the surface 27 isthe transparent electrode 36 which is the mirror image of theconfiguration of the electrode 34. Similarly attached to the surfaces 29and 31 are the transparent electrodes 38 and 40, respectively. Theelectrode 38 is configured in an image which is in a different positionthan the configuration of the electrode 34. In this particularembodiment, the electrode 38 is in the configuration of the airplane ofthe image 12. The electrode 40 is a mirror image of the electrode 38.

It is to be noted that, in an alternative embodiment, the imageproducers could be the polarizers 20 and 22 which would be configured inthe image to be displayed. Using these image producers, the electrodes34, 36, 38 and 40 would be planar sheets covering the respectivesurfaces to which they are attached. Also in this alternativeembodiment, the glass member 26 would be replaced with a polarizerhaving a full surface area as opposed to a configured area. Thisembodiment is advantageous because each configured polarizer can beeasily changed with a differently configured polarizer.

Connected to the electrode 34 and the surface 25 is a transparent lead42 which extends to the edge of the surface 25 for connection to aconductor 50. Attached to the electrode 36 and the surface 27 is atransparent lead 44 which extends to the edge of the surface 27 forconnection to a conductor 52. Similarly, attached to the electrode 38and the surface 29 is a transparent lead 46 which extends to the edge ofthe surface 29 for connection to a conductor 54. Likewise, the electrode40 and the surface 31 have a transparent lead 48 attached thereto whichextends to the edge of the surface 31 for connection to a conductor 56.The conductors 50, 52, 54 and 56 extend to and connect with the scanningcontroller 16 at respective points of connection.

As previously mentioned, separating the glass members 24, 26 and 28 arethe liquid crystal members 30 and 32. In the embodiment of FIG. 2 theliquid crystals are of the type which are transparent to visible lightwhen in the absence of an electrical voltage, but which are opaque tovisible light when in the presence of an electrical voltage. That is,they are electrically sensitive birefringent liquid crystals which aretransparent until their plane of polarization is rotated by anelectrical potential. In addition to liquid crystals, ferroelectricceramics, neon gas displays, photochromic substances, and phototropicsubstances could be utilized. Additionally, activation could be byvibration, sound or electromagnetic waves. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 2, liquid crystals are used which are affected by an electricalvoltage established between the facing pairs of electrodes 34 and 36 andelectrodes 38 and 40 as applied by means of the scanning controller 16.

The scanning controller 16 is a common type of electrical circuit whichsequentially selects and applies a voltage to specific sets of outputs.In this embodiment one set of outputs provides a voltage between theconductors 50 and 52 at a specific point in time and a voltage betweenthe conductors 54 and 56 at a different point in time. This type ofcircuit is commonly known as a ring counter and can be constructed ofeither discrete or integrated circuits. Additionally, the voltageapplied to the outputs can be of varying amounts. For example, an outputof approximately five volts could be used to activate particular typesof liquid crystals.

To control the scanning controller 16, an activation switch means 60, adirection switch means 62, and a rate switch means 64 are used. Theactivation means 60 can be a simple on/off switch. The direction means62 is a switch used to select either a forward or a reverse direction ofscan. The rate means 64 is a variable switch which can be maneuvered toadjust the rate of scan from stationary (page select) to the maximumrate of the particular circuits used.

In operation the scanning controller is activated by turning theactivation switch means 60 on. Next, a forward or reverse direction ofscan is selected through the direction switch means 62. Next, the rateof scan is chosen by manipulating the rate switch means 64. The displaystructure 15 is now displaying the effect of three-dimensional motion.This is accomplished by the scanning controller sequentially selectingand activating the two pairs of facing electrodes, i.e. the electrodes38 and 40 and the electrodes 34 and 36. For example, in FIG. 2 thescanning controller 16 is activating the electrodes 34 and 36 asindicated by a region 66 defined by the electric field between theelectrodes 34 and 36. The voltage across the region 66 causes the liquidcrystals therein to disorient or rotate their plane of polarization andbecome opaque to the visible light source 17. Thus, this region becomesvisible to the viewer 18 thereby imparting an image such as the image 14in FIG. 1. It is readily apparent to one skilled in the art that byadding additional glass members and liquid crystal members andelectrodes configured in differing positions, a smooth three-dimensionalmoving picture can be created. Furthermore, because of the nature of thescanning controller 16, this motion is continuous in that it repeatsitself from either front to rear or rear to front according to thesetting of the direction switch means 62.

The previously mentioned alternative embodiment, wherein the polarizersare configured, operates similarly. The structure is transparent untilthe ring counter is activated. Once it is activated, it causes one imageto become visible, then the next.

Another embodiment of the present invention provides an alternative toboth the FIG. 2 embodiment and the previously mentioned alternativeembodiment, as well as subsequently described embodiments of the presentinvention. In this embodiment either one of the electrodes or one of thepolarizers has a plurality of small holes dispersed throughout the majorsurface thereof. The addition of such an array of holes extendingthrough one of the electrodes or polarizers allows a person on the sideof the display structure opposite the viewer 18 to have clear visionthrough the structure. This is possible because without an electricfield (because of holes in one of the electrodes) or without a polarizer(because of holes in one of the polarizers), no opacity is apparent inthe regions of the holes. However, when the holes are sufficiently smalland dispersed and the viewer 18 is a sufficient distance from thedisplay structure, the viewer still sees the image undistorted by theholes.

Such an embodiment is useful in such items as vans. The displaystructure may be mounted in the rear window of the van so that an imagecan be displayed to following drivers. Although the image is visible tothe following drivers, the image does not obscure the driver's rearwardvision because the light from outside the van, in addition to making theimage visible to the following drivers, passes through the hole regionsto the driver of the van. Such operation is believed by Applicant to bethe basis for the presently used still scenes shown in the rear windowsof some vans. The advantage of the present invention, however, is thatmoving images, in both two and three dimensions, can thereby bedisplayed. Furthermore, this type of embodiment could also be used inthe lenses of eyeglasses.

Referring now to FIG. 3, an additional embodiment of the presentinvention is depicted which operates similarly to that shown in FIG. 2,but which is structurally different. This embodiment includes a displaystructure 100, a scanning controller 101 and subsequently specifiedimage producers.

The display structure includes glass members 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110in spaced relation to each other. This disposition in spaced relationdefines regions 112, 114, 116 and 118 between respective sets of theglass members. The glass members 102, 104, 106, 108 and 110 are of asubstance which is substantially opaque to ultra-violet light buttransparent to visible light, such as Cruxite A which blocksapproximately ninety-five percent of ultra-violet light.

Applied to the forward and rearward sides of the glass member 104 areimages 120 and 122, respectively. Similarly, applied to the forwardsurface of the glass member 108 is an image 124 and to the rearwardsurface thereof is applied an image 126. These images, along with thesubsequently described ultra-violet radiation sources, form the imageproducers of the FIG. 3 embodiment. As indicated in FIG. 3, each ofthese images can be disposed at different locations and can also depictdifferent positions of the object to be shown. For example, the image122 could correspond to the image 12 of FIG. 1 and the image 120 couldcorrespond to the image 14 with the images 124 and 126 configured torepresent different positions of the airplane of FIG. 1. The images 120,122, 124 and 126 are drawn, painted or otherwise applied to theirrespective surfaces and are made of a flourescent material, such as thematerial under the name Yoken. These images are unobservable by theviewer 18 until they fluoresce upon being exposed to ultra-violetradiation.

Such ultra-violet radiation is applied to the respective images of theFIG. 3 embodiment by means of ultra-violet radiation sources 128, 130,132 and 134 placed within the regions 112, 114, 116 and 118,respectively. To provide electrical power to these sources, source 128has leads 136 and 138 attached thereto, source 130 has leads 140 and 142attached thereto, source 132 has leads 144 and 146 attached thereto, andsource 134 has leads 148 and 150 attached thereto. These leads extend toand connect with the scanning controller 101.

The scanning controller 101 is similar to the scanning controller 16previously discussed, and includes activation switch means 154,direction switch means 156 and rate switch means 158. Scanningcontroller 101 is different from the previously described scanningcontroller 16 primarily in that it may have to provide a greaterelectrical output to activate the ultra-violet radiation sources thanwas required to activate the liquid crystals of the FIG. 2 embodiment.

In operation this embodiment is similar to the FIG. 2 embodiment in thatthe scanning controller 101 sequentially activates specific outputs tothereby cause respective images to become visible to the viewer 18. InFIG. 3 the source 130 is shown to be activated and emitting ultra-violetradiation. This radiation causes the image 122 to flouresce and thusbecome visible to the viewer 18. Because the glass member 104 is opaqueto ultra-violet radiation, the source 130 fails to activate the image120. It is for this purpose of blocking ultra-violet radiation toprevent stray illumination that glass members 102, 106 and 110 are used.

It is to be noted that such ultra-violet radiation could also be createdby filling regions 112, 114, 116 and 118 with a gas such as mercuryvapor and connecting the respective leads to electrodes placed withinrespective regions instead of to the previously described ultra-violetlight sources.

Referring now to FIG. 4, one sees the present invention in itstwo-dimensional image embodiment. This embodiment includes a series ofpictures 200 which include individual frames or scenes 202, 204, 206 and208. Adjacent this series of pictures is an overlay 210 of the typeshown in FIG. 5.

The FIG. 5 embodiment includes a display structure 212, a scanningcontroller 214 and subsequently defined image producers which are usedin conjunction with the pictures 200 and a visible light source 216 todisplay sequentially selected frames to the viewer 18.

The component parts of this embodiment are similar to those discussedabove with reference to FIG. 2 except that only a single layer of aliquid crystal member is used. Furthermore, the single layer provides acollection of individual frames. Specifically, the display structure 212includes transparent polarizers 218 and 220, transparent glass members222 and 224, and liquid crystal member 226. As shown in FIG. 5, thepolarizer 218 is placed adjacent the front surface of the glass member222, and the polarizer 220 is placed adjacent the rear surface of theglass member 224. The liquid crystal member 226 is disposed between andadjacent the glass members 222 and 224.

As in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the image producers of the FIG. 5embodiment comprise transparent electrodes and accompanying leads.Attached to the surface of the glass member 222 which faces the glassmember 224 is a transparent electrode 228. Similarly, attached to thesurface of the glass member 224 which faces the glass member 222 is atransparent electrode 230. When the display structure 212 is used inconjunction with the pictures 200, the electrodes 228 and 230 cover aframe-sized surface area of the glass members 222 and 224 to which theyare attached. However, the display structure 212 can be used without thepictures 200 by having the electrodes 228 and 230 configured in aspecific image as was done in the FIG. 2 embodiment. Communicating theelectrodes 228 and 230 with the scanning controller 214 are leads 232and 234, respectively.

The scanning controller 214 is similar to the previously describedscanning controllers and includes an activation switch means 238, adirection switch means 240 and a rate switch means 242.

Although the FIG. 5 embodiment is basically similar to that of the FIG.2 embodiment, one difference is that when the FIG. 5 embodiment is usedin conjunction with the pictures 200, the liquid crystals of the liquidcrystal layer 226 are of the type which are normally opaque to visiblelight in the absence of an electrical field and which are transparent tovisible light in the presence of such field. Should the FIG. 5embodiment be utilized without the pictures 200, but instead withconfigured electrodes, then the liquid crystals used are of the sametype as in the FIG. 2 embodiment.

It is to be understood that the above description has merely described aportion of the entire structure which is indicated in FIG. 4. That is,the polarizers 218 and 220 and the glass members 222 and 224 haveextended lengths and widths which would allow for the coverage of aplurality of frames such as shown in FIG. 4. Please note, however, thatthe frames need not be of a uniform size. Furthermore, there areadditional electrodes attached to the facing surfaces of the glassmembers 222 and 224 which are activated sequentially by the scanningcontroller 214 and which are associated with respective frames such asthe frames 202, 204, 206 and 208 of FIG. 4. Likewise, the liquid crystalmember 226 is such that portions thereof are activated in response tothe activation of respective facing pairs of electrodes.

In operation in conjunction with the pictures 200, the scanningcontroller 214 sequentially selects these separate pairs of facingelectrodes to thereby cause the corresponding volume of liquid crystalto orient and become transparent to visible light. When this occurs, thevisible light from the source 216 passes through the activated region ofliquid crystal to illuminate the respective frame of the picture 200thus making it visible to the viewer 18. For example, when theelectrodes 228 and 230 are activated, the crystals in the region of theliquid crystal member 226 affected by the resultant electrical fieldbetween these electrodes orient themselves and thus allow light to passthrough the display structure 212 and illuminate the frame 202. Toenhance the illumination of the pictures 200, they can be spacedapproximately one inch, for example, away from the display structure 212so ambient light other than that passing through the display structurecan also illuminate the pictures.

It is also to be noted that the operation of the FIG. 5 embodiment canalso display three-dimensionally related objects. That is, instead ofusing the pictures 200, the apparatus includes three-dimensional objectswhich may be spatially related not only by length and width, as are thepictures 200, but also by depth from one frame to the next.

Another embodiment of the two-dimensional type of the present inventionis depicted in FIG. 6. This embodiment includes a planar glass member300 which is of a type of material similar to that used in the FIG. 3embodiment. Applied to the surface of this member 300 are a plurality ofscenes of which a scene 302 is one. Such scenes are made of aflourescing material as described above with reference to FIG. 3.

Illumination of these scenes is accomplished by sequentially exposingeach scene to ultra-violet radiation from sources such as a source 304.Each such radiation source 304 has associated therewith a shield 306 andelectrical conductors 308 and 310 thereby communicating the source witha scanning controller 312. The scanning controller 312 is similar to thepreviously described controllers and includes an activation switch means314, a directional switch means 316, and a rate switch means 318.

By sequentially activating the radiation sources, each of which isassociated with individual scenes as in FIG. 4, the individual scenesare caused to fluoresce and thereby become visible to the viewer 18.Because of the sequential scanning, two-dimensional motion is obtained.

Still another type of embodiment which creates the effect oftwo-dimensional motion is shown in FIG. 7. In this embodiment a seriesof pictures 400 which include individual frames, such as those framesshown in FIG. 4, is separated from the viewer 18 by a shield 402. Theshield 402 can be a translucent plastic sheet to thereby provide auniform appearance to the viewer 18 when the device is not activated.

To cause the viewer 18 to see the individual frames, an illuminationmeans 406 is placed on the side of the shield 402 opposite the viewer 18and is activated to illuminate one frame of the picture 400. A preferredtype of illumination means is a bright light-emitting diode. Suchillumination means includes a shield 408 and electrical conductors 410and 412 which communicate the illumination means to a scanningcontroller 414 of a type previously described and including anactivation switch means 416, a direction switch means 418 and a rateswitch means 420. As mentioned with reference to the FIG. 6 embodiment,there are a plurality of illumination means similar to the illuminationmeans 406, each of which is associated with an individual frame of thepicture 400. Thus when the scanning controller 414 is activated, theindividual illumination means are sequentially activated to therebyilluminate individual frames for viewing by the viewer 18.

Referring now to FIG. 8, a preferred use embodiment of the presentinvention is disclosed. A book 500 includes pages upon each side ofwhich are arranged a series of pictures 502. Separate from the book 500,but used in conjunction therewith to effect moving pictures, is anoverlay 504 constructed according to the present invention. For example,the overlay 504 is depicted to be the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Theoverlay 504 comprises a series of frames 506, each of which is of a sizecomparable to each individual picture 502. To implement this accordingto the embodiment of FIG. 5, the electrodes 228 and 230 thereof whichwould constitute a single frame 506, would be of a size comparable toeach picture 502.

Associated with the overlay 504 is a cable 508 which is an orderlycollection of the pairs of conductors (such as the leads 232 and 234)which communicate each pair of frame electrodes with a scanningcontroller 510 of the type previously described. As in the previouslydescribed scanning controllers, the scanning controller 510 has anactivation switch means 512, a direction switch means 514 and a rateswitch means 516.

By activating the scanning controller 510, each individual frame 506 issequentially activated to reveal an underlying picture 502. By adjustingthe rate switch means 516, a viewer perceives moving pictures from thepage of the book 500.

It is, of course, apparent that the frames 506 can be constructed ofvarying sizes and used in ways other than to merely display pictures.For example, overlays could be used to sequentially reveal portions oftextual material at a rate which would cause the reader to increase hisreading speed by comprehending writing in groups of words instead ofmerely individual words. Furthermore, the present invention could beused to create the effect of pictures moving across the walls of achild's room.

Still further, it is apparent that a plurality of ring counters could beused concurrently to have various portions of each of theabove-described embodiments either concurrently or sequentiallyfunctioning. Also, the scanning process could be performed inconjunction with certain frames which are continuously pulsed on and offindependently of the ring counter's scanning process.

Referring now to FIGS. 9A-9C, there is disclosed the single-frame movingpicture embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment includes adisplay structure 600, a scanning controller 602, and image producersgenerally indicated by the reference numeral 603.

FIG. 9A shows that the display structure 600 includes a front glassmember 604 placed in front of a liquid crystal member 606 which in turnis placed in front of a polarizer 608. Disposed between the glass member604 and the liquid crystal member 606 is a transparent electrode member610 which has a surface area approximately equal to the facing surfaceareas of the members 604 and 606. A similar electrode member 612 isdisposed between the facing surfaces of the liquid crystal 606 and thepolarizer member 608. Extending from these electrode members areelectrical leads 613 which connect the electrodes to the scanningcontroller 602.

The scanning controller 602 may be an ordinary ring counter aspreviously described, or it may be a simple oscillator known in the art.

The image producers 603 are more fully disclosed in FIGS. 9B and 9C. Inthese FIGS. the image producers 603 are shown to include a firstcollection of dot-configured polarizer elements 614 and a secondcollection of dot-configured polarizer elements 616. Although theseFIGS. indicate these polarizers to have a dot shape, they may have anyother desirable shape. The elements of the collection of polarizers 614are disposed on a front surface 618 of the glass member 604 incorresponding orientations so that they polarize light in the samedirection. The elements of the collection of polarizers 616 are attachedto the front surface 618 of the glass member 604 in an oppositeorientation to the collection of polarizers 614 so that the elements 616pass light having a different polarization than that which the polarizerelements 614 will pass. Having these two collections of polarizersrelated in this manner permits one collection to become visible to aviewer during one activation state of the scanning controller andpermits the other collection to become visible at a different period ofactivation of the scanning controller 602. Also, these collections arearranged on the glass member 604 to define respective configurations ofthe images to be displayed.

In FIG. 9B the polarizer collection 614 is shown in its visible state,whereas the polarizer collection 616 is shown in its transparent mode asindicated by the phantom-line drawings. FIG. 9C, on the other hand,shows the collection 616 in its visible mode, whereas the collection 614is shown in its transparent mode. Thus, from this type of operation itis apparent that within the single frame on which the two collectionsare disposed, at least two different images can be made to becomealternatingly visible.

An inventive variation of the FIGS. 9A-9C embodiment is to configure theelectrode 610 in a plurality of images and to have each imaged electrodeportion electrically isolated from every other imaged portion. Each ofthese portions is then connected to a respective output of the scanningcontroller 602. As the controller 602 scans to activate the variousoutputs, the plurality of images etched in the electrode 610 are therebysequentially displayed. Thus, the same multiple imaging effect in asingle frame is obtained.

With reference now to FIGS. 10A and 10B, another inventive variation ofthe embodiment shown in FIG. 9A is shown. This embodiment includes adisplay structure 620, a scanning controller 622, and image producerswhich include bands 624, 626, 628, and 630. These bands, in conjunctionwith an object or objects to be displayed (such as pictures 632 and633), function to reveal the images to be displayed.

In a specific embodiment of the image producers, the bands 624-630 are avertically arrayed collection of horizontally extending pairs ofelectrodes which are connected to the scanning controller 622 by meansof leads 634 and 636. These electrode pairs are disposed in a positionsimilar to that of the electrodes 610 and 612 of FIG. 9A embodiment; butare different in that instead of being a single surface coveringelectrode, the band electrodes of the FIG. 10A embodiment cover onlyrespective portions of the entire surface area. Also, adjacent electrodepairs are electrically isolated from each other. Another difference fromthe FIG. 9A embodiment is that the FIG. 10A embodiment has a polarizercovering the entire front surface area of the display structure 620 inplace of the image-configured polarizer in FIG. 9A.

In operation FIG. 10A indicates that the bands 624 and 628 are to beactivated at the same time by the scanning controller 622 by means ofbeing connected thereto by the common lead 634. Likewise, the bands 626and 630 are commonly connected in electrically parallel manner to thescanning controller 622 by means of lead 636. Therefore, in FIG. 10A itis shown that the scanning controller 622 has activated the electrodebands 626 and 630 to reveal the picture 632 behind these bands.Similarly shown are the electrode bands 624 and 628 in their unactivatedstates which cause the liquid crystal material disposed between each ofthese bands to appear opaque and thereby prevent the viewer from seeingthe picture 633 behind these respective bands. Referring now to FIG. 10Bit is shown that the scanning controller 622 has now activated the bands624 and 628 to reveal the picture 633 which is behind these two bands.At the same time the bands 626 and 630 become unactivated therebyallowing the liquid crystal associated therewith to appear opaque. It isapparent from this operation that the bands could be made of varyingwidths and of varying number within any one frame and that a pluralityof frames could be used.

In a different, but related, embodiment the bands 624-630 may be bandsof polarizer material wherein each band of polarizer has an oppositeorientation to each adjacent polarizer. Using this type of bandembodiment, a single pair of surface covering electrodes could be usedin association therewith. Such a surface-covering electrode would besimilar to that shown in FIG. 9A. The operation would also be similar tothe FIG. 9A-9C embodiment in that one set of polarizers would be opaqueand the other would be transparent under one activation state of thescanning controller 622 and then the opposite would occur under adifferent activation state of the scanning controller 622.

It is to be noted that in the electrode band embodiment, the liquidcrystal member may include nematic liquid crystals and therefore notrequire polarizers in the front and rear of the display structure.

Referring now to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13, reflective-and-gated pictureembodiments of the present invention are shown. FIG. 11 shows a displaystructure 640, a scanning controller 642 and image producers which willbe subsequently described. The display structure 640 includes a firstgate member 644 and a second gate member 646 connected together by aconnector means 647. The gate member 644 includes a liquid crystalmember 648 which is disposed between two surface-covering transparentelectrodes 650 and 652. Placed adjacent the surfaces of the electrodesopposite the liquid crystal member 648 are polarizers 654 and 656. Thepolarizer 656 has a thin layer of reflective material coated on itssurface 657 facing the gate member 646. The gate member 646 isconstructed similarly to the gate member 644 and includes a liquidcrystal member 658, two surface-covering transparent electrode members660 and 662, and two polarizers 664 and 666. The gate member 646 isdisposed in an angular relationship with the gate member 644 so that theplane containing one surface of the member 646 and the plane containingthe reflective surface 657 of the member 644 intersect to define anacute angle extending toward the viewer. These two gate members operatein conjunction with respective reflective pictures 668 and 670 todisplay an image on the gate member 644 which is visible to a viewer672.

In operation, the scanning controller alternately activates the two gatemembers 644 and 646. For example, the scanning controller activates thegate member 646 to become transparent and therefore permit the image ofthe picture 670 to be reflected off the reflective surface of thepolarizer 656 for viewing by the viewer 672. During this portion of thescanning controller's cycle, the liquid crystal member 648 is opaque tothus permit such reflection to occur. During an alternate scanningcycle, the liquid crystal member 648 becomes transparent and the liquidcrystal member 658 becomes opaque, thus permitting the image of thepicture 668 to become visible to the viewer 672.

It is to be noted that the scanning controller 642 could also be anoscillator which would simultaneously pulse both liquid crystal membersto effect the above alternating sequence of images. If such anoscillator were used, however, the pair of polarizers 654 and 656 mustbe oppositely oriented to the pair of polarizers 664 and 666;alternatively, the liquid crystal member 648 must function opposite tothe liquid crystal member 658, for such simultaneous pulsing to effectalternating images. Also, instead of lightly coating the polarizer 656with a reflective substance, the liquid crystal member 648 may includereflective particles which will reflect the image from the picture 670when the liquid crystal member 648 is in its opaque mode.

With reference now to FIG. 12, a different embodiment, but one which issimilar to the FIG. 11 embodiment, is shown. In this embodiment the gatemembers 644 and 646 are related in the same manner as in the FIG. 11embodiment, but added thereto is a mirror 674 extending to the rear ofthe gate member 644 in acute angular relationship thereto. This permitsthe viewing by the viewer 672 of the two pictures 668 and 670 which areboth on the same, or parallel, planes, as opposed to the angularlyrelated positioning of the pictures in FIG. 11. This is very useful witha book where two pictures are spaced apart on the same page. It is to benoted that the mirror 674 can be planar, convex, or concave in order toaffect the size of picture displayed to the viewer. The operation ofthis embodiment is the same as for the FIG. 11 embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a variation of the display apparatus shown in FIG. 12. InFIG. 13, the gate member 644 is changed somewhat in its relationship tothe gate member 646 as shown in the FIG., yet it still retains its acuteangular relationship between the reflective surface of the member 644and the surface of the member 646 through the connection therebetween bythe connector means 675. However, this acute angle now extends away fromthe viewer. This enables the display of the images to appear on theupper surface of the gate member 646 so that the viewer 672 can observethe image in a normal reading position. Again the two gate members 644and 646 are operated as described in the FIG. 11 embodiment. However, inFIG. 13 the image of the picture 668 is reflected off the mirror 674when the liquid crystal member 648 of the gate member 644 istransparent, and then also is reflected off a thin reflective coatingwhich coats the top surface of the gate member 646. When the liquidcrystal member 648 of the gate member 644 is opaque, the liquid crystalmember of the gate member 646 is transparent to permit the image of thepicture 670 to become visible to the viewer 672. As with the previousembodiments, either a ring counter which individually activates the gatemembers 644 and 646 may be used, or the polarizers or liquid crystalsmay be such that the alternating display of the images can be effectedby a single pulse simultaneously applied to both of the gate members 644and 646.

Two additional embodiments of the present invention which gate picturesfor merging into a single viewing area are shown in FIGS. 14 and 15.FIG. 14 discloses a display structure including a plurality of gatemembers disposed adjacent each other and overlying a planar collectionof pictures, or other material to be displayed as image producers. Inparticular this FIG. discloses the gate member 644, the gate member 646,and a gate member 682 as each having extending from one end thereof atan included acute angle a mirror member 684, 686, and 688, respectively.These gate and mirror members are shown in FIG. 14 to overlie thepictures 668, 670 and 690. The gate members are also shown to be a partof a single overlay member 691. Further included in this embodiment is adisplay mirror member 692 on which the images are merged for viewing bythe viewer 672. The mirror member 692 has a reflective surface facingthe reflective surface of the mirror members 684, 686, and 688. Althoughnot shown in FIG. 14, each of the gate members 644, 646 and 682 areconnected to a ring counter as disclosed in the description of previousembodiments. This ring counter sequentially activates each of the gatemembers to cause the liquid crystal members therein to becometransparent at activated times so that the image on the pictureassociated with the respective activated gate member may be reflectedfrom the mirror members associated with the activated gate member to theviewing mirror 692. This sequential displaying of the various images isobtained by having a coating on the undersides of the mirrors 684, 686and 688 for reflecting the images from the pictures located directlybelow the mirror surfaces. However, the coating is thin enough to permitthe passage through the mirrors of the light which enters the mirrormembers from the sides opposite the coated sides. For example, themirror member 686 has an underside coating which reflects the image fromthe picture 670 when the gate member 646 is activated so that the liquidcrystal member therein is transparent; however, when the liquid crystalmember of the gate member 646 is opaque and the liquid crystal member ofthe gate member 644 is transparent, then the mirror member 686 permitsthe image from the picture 668 reflecting off of the mirror member 684to pass through it and on through the mirror member 688 to the viewingmirror 692.

An advantage of this system and the other type of merging systems isthat it may be used with a group of physically separated still picturesto present a motion picture scene on a single surface. Also, thereflective surfaces of the mirror members 684, 686 and 688 may be convexor concave to change the size of the images displayed. Such techniqueswould provide for the use of smaller pictures, and therefore greaterquantities of pictures to be placed on a single page. Additionally, itis to be noted that light sources can be placed at various locations onthese merging systems to enhance the imaging quality of the embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 15, an embodiment of a display structure of thepresent invention which uses a prism 680 for merging various images isshown. This embodiment of the display structure includes the gate member644 and the gate member 646 which are associated with the angular sidesurfaces of the prism 680. The prism 680 has a reflective surface 681from which the angular side surfaces extend at acute angles thereto.Further associated with the gate members 644 and 646 as image producersare a picture 676 and a picture 678, respectively. These pictures may bephotographic slides which can have the images thereon projected by lightsources which are appropriately associated on the sides of the picturesopposite the sides which are adjacent the gate members. When thesepictures are illuminated and permitted to be displayed by means of aring counter activating the liquid crystal members of the gate members644 and 646, they are displayed on the reflective surface 681 of theprism 680. By having a prism with a large number of angular sides, it isapparent that a number of pictures can be sequentially displayed toeffect motion pictures.

Referring now to FIG. 16, the rotating disk motion picture embodiment ofthe present invention is shown. The display structure of this embodimentincludes a disk member 700 having a member having a plurality of frames702 with images thereon. The disk member 700 has an opening 704 overwhich is placed a gate member, such as the previously described gatemember 644, and through which one of said frames 702 may be viewed. Thegate member 644 is associated with a timing means 706. Also included inthis embodiment is a rotating means, such as a motor, which isassociated with the frame-containing member 702 for rotating it. Thisrotating means is also associated with the timing means 706 so that therotational speed of the frame member 702 and gating speed of the gatemember 644 are synchronized.

In operation of this embodiment, the rotation means rotates the framemember 702 thereby causing each of the individual frames 702 tomomentarily appear in the opening 704. So that the frames may becoherently displayed to a viewer to effect a motion picture affect, thetiming means 706 activates the gate member 644 to become transparent ata time synchronized with the appearance of an individual frame in theopening 704. Therefore, it is apparent that an advantage of this systemis that a plurality of disks 700 can be used and easily interchanged toprovide a variety of motion picture scenes to be quickly viewed by theviewer.

Referring now to FIG. 17, an embodiment of the present invention usingholograms is disclosed. This embodiment includes a display structure720, a scanning controller 722 anda plurality of image producers withinthe display structure as subsequently described. The display structure720 includes a plurality of holographic plates, or members, for example,plates 724, 726, 728, and 730, each of which includes the imageproducers therein as is known in the art of holography. Also within thedisplay structures 720 are a plurality of illumination means 732, 734,736 and 738 each associated with a respective one of the holographicplates 724-730. In this embodiment each of the illumination means isdisposed at its own respective angle to the group of holographic plates,with each such angle being different from every other angle at which theother illumination means are disposed. Furthermore, the images containedwithin the holographic plates 724-730 are angularly related therewithinso that they will be activated only by the respective illumination meansimpinging thereupon at the appropriate angle. Therefore, in this mannerit is apparent that by having the scanning controller 722 sequentiallyactivate the illuminating means 732-738, the various images within thedisplay structure 720 are sequentially activated to become visible to aviewer 740 in the form of moving pictures.

It is to be noted that the illuminating means 732-738 may be of anysuitable type of lighting means known in the art, such as incandescentlights or xenon lights. Additionally, the holographic plates 724-730 arealso those known in the art and may include holographic images thereinwhich are angularly disposed as above stated or ones which react to onlycertain frequencies of light thus requiring band-pass filters to beused. Other types of holographic images and plates may also be used.

It is also to be noted that variations of FIG. 17 embodiment arepossible. For example, the holographic plates could be arranged inside-by-side fashion with each plate having a respective illuminatingmeans associated therewith. This would result in a side-by-sidestructure similar to those shown in FIGS. 4 and 8. Additionally, theholographic plates could be stacked as in FIG. 17, except they would bein spaced relation as opposed to adjacent relation, thereby to permitthe placement of illuminating means between each plate for respectiveassociation with individual holographic plates. Furthermore, variouslenses, light shields and filters can be used in effecting the motionpicture presentation of the images within the holograms. Still further,various angular relationships between the illuminating means and theholographic plates can be provided to change the depth and color, aswell as other characteristics, of the images displayed.

An advantage of this embodiment is that it provides holographic movingpictures that are moved electronically as opposed to previously knowncollections of holographic plates which were arranged such that motioncould only be observed by having the viewer move. Also this motion canbe obtained by using only a single holographic picture and sequentiallyactivating lights from different angles thereby causing the image withinthe plate to appear to move.

Regardless of the specific use or embodiment of the present invention,the present invention described herein simply creates in a compact unitthe effect of moving pictures. Thus, the present invention for creatingthe effect of moving pictures in two and three dimensions is welladapted to carry out the objects and attain the ends and advantagesmentioned above as well as those inherent therein. While preferredembodiments of the invention have been described for the purpose of thisdisclosure, numerous changes in the construction and arrangement ofparts can be made by those skilled in the art, which changes areencompassed within the spirit of this invention as defined by theappended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for creating the effect upon aviewer of moving related images, as in a motion picture, comprising:adisplay structure including a stacked array of a plurality oftransparent members and gate members alternately positioned so that saidstacked array has a first end thereof defined by a respective one of thetransparent members and a second end thereof defined by anotherrespective one of the transparent members and said stacked array alsohas a plurality of gate members disposed between consecutive transparentmembers, whereby there are a plurality of sets of facing surfaces ofconsecutively stacked transparent members, each set being disposedadjacent the two major surfaces of an associated gate member; aplurality of pairs of image producers associated with said displaystructure, each pair of said image producers comprising solely: a firsttransparent electrode having a predetermined size, shape and position ofthe total pictorial image to be displayed, corresponding to a respectivemoment of the motion, said first transparent electrode being disposed ona respective one of the facing surfaces of a respective one set of thesesets of facing surfaces; a second transparent electrode having apredetermined size, shape and position which is the mirror image of thepredetermined size, shape and position of said first transparentelectrode, said second transparent electrode being disposed in axialalignment with said first transparent electrode on the other facingsurface of the respective set of facing surfaces with which said firsttransparent electrode is associated; and a scanning controller means,electrically connected to a plurality of pairs of image producers, forsequentially activating at a selectable rate each of said imageproducers so that each set of first and second transparent electrodesrepresenting a respective total pictorial image to be displayed inmotion become periodically visible to the viewer so the effect of motionis imparted thereto.
 2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said gatemembers being liquid crystals.